Woman faces child abuse charges after juvenile was found lethargic and laying in feces

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Officers have arrested a woman after they located a juvenile who was naked, lethargic, and laying in feces.

According to the Cape Girardeau Police Department on November 2, 2024, around 2:30 pm officers assisted the Division of Family Services with a child abuse hotline investigation on the 1400 block of North Spanish Street. When officers made contact with the Division of Family Services worker, they stated they had received a hotline call for a 17-year-old juvenile.

After arrival officers were spoke with Jacqueline Straughn age 51 of Cape Girardeau, through a window in the residence. Straughn advised she is the mother and caregiver for her juvenile son. Straughn informed officers she last saw and provided food to her son on October 31st.

Officers forced entry into the residence and upon entering were met with a large amount of dog feces and urine that had been in the residence for a long time making it difficult for the occupants of the residence to breathe.

Officers made contact with the juvenile who was laying on a bed with no sheets and naked under a blanket. The juvenile appeared to be lethargic, and a large amount of feces was discovered under him where he was not wearing a diaper and not properly cleaned.

The juvenile appeared to be malnourished and had several bug bites on his body. The bedroom where the juvenile was located was covered with trash and did not appear to have clothing available for the juvenile.

Jacqueline Straughn was arrested and faces charges of child abuse.

Straughn is currently being held on a $25,000 cash only bond.